UK CAA: NATS Disruption Likely 'Extraordinary Circumstances', Compensation Unlikely

Key points

• The CAA considers delays and cancellations directly caused by the 21 September 2026 technical issue at NATS' Prestwick centre likely to be 'extraordinary circumstances' under passenger rights rules.
• In these circumstances passengers are unlikely to be entitled to compensation, but airlines must still look after passengers whose flights are delayed or cancelled.
• For cancelled flights, airlines must offer a refund, re-routing at the earliest opportunity, or re-routing at a later date.
• Airlines must provide meals, refreshments and hotel accommodation proportionate to the length of the delay, with particular attention to passengers needing more practical assistance.
• Where airlines cannot proactively offer care or suitable replacement flights, they are expected to promptly reimburse passengers for costs they incur making their own arrangements, while passengers are encouraged to avoid excessive costs.
• The issue primarily impacted airports in northern parts of the UK, with other airports also reporting disruption; the fault has been fixed but knock-on effects may mean some flights remain disrupted.
• The guidance relates to Assimilated Regulation 261/2004, which applies to all flights departing the UK and to flights arriving in the UK on UK and EU carriers; different rights may apply to arrivals on non-EU carriers such as US airlines.